prevenir
/pre-beh-NEER/
to prevent
Prevenir means to prevent something bad from happening, like using a safety gate to keep someone safe.
prevenir(verb)
to prevent
?stopping something bad from happening
to avoid
?taking steps to stay away from a problem
📝 In Action
Lavarse las manos ayuda a prevenir enfermedades.
A2Washing your hands helps to prevent illnesses.
Es mejor prevenir que lamentar.
B1It is better to be safe than sorry (literally: better to prevent than to regret).
💡 Grammar Points
Think of 'Venir'
This word changes its spelling exactly like the word 'venir' (to come). If you know how to say 'vengo' (I come), you just add 'pre-' to get 'prevengo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Past Tense Trap
Mistake: "yo prevení"
Correction: yo previne (it follows the irregular 'venir' pattern in the past).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using it for health
Use 'prevenir' when talking about staying healthy or avoiding a virus; it sounds very proactive and smart.
Prevenir also means to warn or alert someone about a future event, like an approaching storm.
prevenir(verb)
to warn
?alerting someone about a future event
to forewarn
?giving notice in advance
📝 In Action
Le previne sobre los peligros del viaje.
B2I warned him about the dangers of the trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'sobre'
When warning someone 'about' something, use the word 'sobre' or 'de' after the verb.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prevenir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'I warned her'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'prevenir' the same as 'evitar'?
They are close! 'Evitar' is just to avoid something, while 'prevenir' implies taking specific actions or being prepared beforehand so the thing never happens.
Is it 'yo prevení' or 'yo previne'?
It is 'yo previne'. It follows the same irregular pattern as 'venir' (yo vine).